Blue and Light...

I know you may be tired of me showing you so many blue images, but I seem to be drawn more and more to the fresh contrast of a watery blue and crisp white. Perhaps it is the influence of summer, but I am wishing I had painted more of my home in blue. Starting with this lovely foyer and staircase image from House Beautiful... How wonderful would it feel to open your front door and be greeted by that??!!


Next, I'd take myself into this beautiful living room, put up my feet on the coffee table (after dusting off the sand), and reach for a book from that glorious bookcase. Don't you just love the pretty blue shade they have painted the interior of the cabinet? I'm going to do that...I'm just not sure where yet!

photo: Better Homes and Gardens

Next, I'd head up that staicase to the waiting bath. I've always wanted a clawfoot tub. When my hubby was waiting for me to finish up university so I could move to Baddeck and join him, he rented a little house that had the perfect clawfoot tub. It was wonderful and probably the only thing that house had going for it (ants moved in each fall and the rest of it had a smell of rotten eggs that wasn't so charming...!!). The joys of vintage plumbing!! Well, back to my daydream...


























photos: Pom Pom Interiors








These chandeliers qualify, in my book, as being the most beautiful I have ever seen. I am drawn to the really sparkly ones and I don't think I've ever seen sparklier!! The dining hutch with its perfectly chipped paint and reflective glass is heavenly...I want it all!! From the lamps to the pendant lights I think I've just encountered all that is perfect about the combination of blue and light. I am also dreaming about that gorgeous blue mantle and mirror surround. Now, how the heck am I going to get any of this or recreate it on my budget?? I think this has given me the spark I needed to get inspired to "go on the hunt" again and lighten up my home further!! I feel a road trip coming on...!!!

Keeping cool...by the pool !!

Well, we are 80% finished with the pool and pool deck. All that remains is to put up some more privacy lattice around the top of the deck, build the changing room (Paul has something special in mind), and finish installing the white pool railing at the back of the pool. We decided to go that route at the back as we have total privacy in our back yard and the trees are so lovely to look at.We are finally getting some proper pool weather and I can finally stop whining about the rain. However, anyone who knows me knows I don't mind complaining about hot, humid weather either!! I won't now though, because if I get too hot I can drag my sorry self into the pool; and now that Paul installed the air conditioner in the kitchen window, inside is also nice and cool. I can now be one of those people who seem so easy going about the heat. That's me...cool and collected...never complaining about the weather...!!!

Here is my "perch" as Paul calls it. I bought the lounge chair strictly because it was silver sage, one of my favourite colours, and luckily it is oh so comfortable as well. It is where I do my life-guarding now that the kids are in the pool all day. Did you notice the umbrella? It is within the basket of flowers itself. It is one of my favourite things I have created. First I placed a cast iron umbrella stand in the empty basket. Next, I added a plastic catch pan for the water run-off from the flowers. I had to cut a hole in it and slip it over the umbrella stand post. Then, I also cut a hole in a large flower pot and slipped it over the post as well. Next, I added a bit of gravel. Then I put the actual umbrella into the stand, added some soil and the plants and voila. A pretty, shady spot to shield me from the worst of the heat while I lightly peruse my decorating mags (...I mean lifeguard)."Hey, no diving!!" Actually, that's a handstand...I really do lifeguard them well...


Next up is The Bar. I didn't want one of those iron sets from Walmart/Canadian Tire as they didn't fit with my beachy/relaxed scheme. This I found at a friend's yard sale and I think it was meant for books or a television. I saw bar when I looked at it. Not that it's ever been used in that sense. We actually use it more for putting the kids snacks on, and it is very useful. I strung some netting I had picked up at Target and the shell lights are from the Christmas Tree Shop. So pretty at night...Speaking of night, we have an underwater light for the pool, but I found these beautiful lanterns at Winners/Homesense. I love them and they take a candle so they were perfect!! Aren't they pretty??

This is Sophie's little spot to sit with her friends. I set up tic-tac-toe on one of the little green tables and she likes to challenge us to a game. We don't dare win as she is a bit of a sore loser!!

This sign, Paul practically laughed me out of the house over! He couldn't figure out the need to have such a sign (he's so literal!!) but I didn't want anyone getting lost on their way... Next, is the coveted lounge chair on the kid's side of the deck. The boys don't seem to care that it is a bit girly, because that pad on the lounger is sooo comfy. I picked it up last year at Pier One...on sale. The boys look pretty cute on it!!
Lastly, before you go in this pool,
You need to read these rules:
Number five is the most important rule of all, don't you think? I must admit, I ask each of Sophie's friends if they'd like to visit the bathroom before they jump in. I'm a bit paranoid, I know, but better safe than sorry!! After all, it's not really the beach...!!!!

Kids of Steel !!!

Our youngest son competed on Saturday in the annual Kids of Steel triathlon at Melmerby Beach. I guess I shouldn't say competed as it was considered a non-competitive event, but try telling that to an eleven year old!! That said, he did finish second in his age group!! Ahem... as I was saying, it was a fun day for him and it was his first ever triathlon. For his age group, he had to swim 150 m, bike 10 km, and run two km. It was 30 degrees (92 farenheit) and sooo hot!! He seemed to be sailing through until he got a stitch near the end and had to walk a bit. (I, of course, was worried he was getting heatstroke and feared he'd drop...). It was a well-planned event and it was so nice to see kids putting forth so much effort to do their personal best and have a lot of fun (I can't imagine calling running and biking in that heat fun, but then again I'm not an athlete). His Dad is up next as he is competing in the sprint version of the adult triathlon on Sunday. His swim distance is 750 m, the bike is 20km and the run is 5km. Glad it's not me...!!!

***This determined little guy is a friend's son. He is only five years old and was so cute...waterwings and training wheels...it just goes to show that it pays to get them started in athletics at a young age! Sophie is determined that next year she is competing (oops, I mean participating) too!!!

Keeping Time...

I love clocks. Just a couple of days ago, I almost bought another one. It was a cream iron one in the shape of a bird on a nest, with little rust spots on the iron. Very shabby, but beautiful. I put it back however, but I'm still thinking about it...a bad sign! I have enough clocks to let me know if I'm running late, but my favourite is one my husband made for me. I painted it a beautiful old black, not too shiny, and antiqued it a bit by sanding the edges. It has enjoyed pride of place in each of my homes, and this time it is in my mudroom.

I thought I'd show you a few from other sources, that are just too beautiful for words. I also wanted to show you my other favourite, "Big Ben", which is my kitchen clock and it is a great clock with big letters and a vintage feel. I hope you like the sampling I have chosen.

photo: Linnea's hage

photo: Pottery Barn

Bits and Bobs

I went on a little tour around my house today to see if I had anything new to show you all. I am in slow motion mode with all the humidity we are having and feeling rather uninspired from a decorative standpoint. I usually do very little to the interior of my own home in the summer. Fall and winter is my time to get inspired and, last year, also proved to be the busiest time for my business. So, lots of thinking and dreaming come then... For now, I'll just show you a few more of my treasures and recent purchases.

As I mentioned in a previous post, I purchased some really pretty, shabby-chic inspired curtains. I got them for $20 for the pair and they have added a bit of softness to the windows in my dining area. I hung them from swing-out rods that I picked up at Walmart. Cheap and easy, and if I want a little more sun to come in, I can just swing them out of the way! I also bought a kitchen scale at a lovely home decor shop where my mum lives in N.B. It is the exact powder blue as my kitchen cabinets and I almost passed it up! I rarely have reason to weigh food, so I really was trying to be sensible and not get it. Well, Miss Sensible herself, my mum, talked me into getting it!! She is the one who usually talks me out of purchases, telling me " Ochh, you don't really need that, Linda." When we went to Bangor, Me. in the spring, I even warned her not to do that to me!! So, in this case, when my own mother is telling me to buy something... well... I am an obedient daughter. It wouldn't be very nice not to listen to my own mum!!! Anyway, I truly love it and it is one of those "aahh" purchases. No regrets!!

I also thought I'd show you some beautiful file folders I picked up at Homesense (Canada's version of T.J. Maxx in case you're wondering) a while back. They are so beautiful I have not yet had the heart to use them. I want to display them where I can enjoy them. I thought about using them for client files, but I cannot part with them. They are me through and through!! The picture of them is from Room Service Home where they must have originated before finding themselves on the shelves of where I found them.

Below is a hamper I also picked up a while ago at Winners/Homesense for Sophie's room. It was love at first sight and I decided right off that it was too pretty to put dirty laundry in. So now it is the perfect spot for storing her stuffed animals. I love the colours and the femininity of it...

The final photo is of my baby girl holding my most recent gift from my mum and sister. It is Little Bear from the book series and television show of the same name. Little Bear has been a popular part of our lives for many years and this particular bear was purchased at a yard sale by two of my favorite and most thoughtful people. This bear talks and laughs in true Little Bear style and I will treasure him forever. He brings me back to the days when my children were scrumptious little toddlers...

Come what may...

photo: Victoria Magazine

I am a planner. I like to make lists, know what I'm going to be doing each weekend, and generally have some sort of schedule to follow. That said, I like to think I'm spontaneous too. I know I'm contradicting myself, but I guess what I'm trying to explain is that I'm usually up for anything. I love to have fun and have something on the go. I bore easily and have a hard time sitting still. I find it hard to truly relax, unless I'm engaged in some great conversation with a good cup of coffee in my hand.




Summer can present challenges for someone like me. I want to feel like I always have something to do, yet I rebel against having a schedule and miss my usual routine. I think it boils down to feeling like everyone else is doing something more exciting than me and feeling guilty for all the laziness of summer.


As my sister and her kids are visiting, today we headed off to Halifax. We were very torn about whether or not we should go, as we know taking so many kids off for a day of shopping and sightseeing can be a tad overwhelming. However, we had that feeling that we shouldn't just be hanging by the pool all the time. Vacations are meant to be non-stop activity aren't they? Well, it was hectic, and it was fun and it was stressful.


Upon our return, we decided we needed some girl's only time and headed off to a local pub to dine on their rooftop. It was relaxing, restorative and we enjoyed just chatting and catching up on being sisters and friends. I think that is what we all need to remember...that the best times aren't always the planned outings; but the lunches at the outdoor cafes, the last minute campfires where we roast marshmallows or make s'mores, impromptu barbeques on the deck, and the walks through town... window gazing or admiring others' gardens. We all need to decompress and feel o.k. about doing it.


I say, do we always have to try to make everything so magical? And why is it so frustrating when we plan an outing and hiccups along the way throw us for a loop? Like car sickness, teenage boredom at the outings we plan just to entertain them, jelly fish, and kids having their daily sibling squabbles? Obviously, I'm speaking from experience but luckily, I can muster up a good bout of amnesia when I need it and go on with planning my summer schedule...Or maybe that's exactly what I should be forgoing: schedules aren't for spontaneous people. Summer is the time for letting the wind take you where it may...Enjoy it!!!

My Mother's House...

My mother has great style. She is very humble about it, but it's true. She loves decorating as much as I do and we always have a great time shopping together. Our tastes do vary on minor things, but I could definitely go around her home and "shop" many of her furnishings and decorative accessories!! No one can spruce up a piece of furniture like my mum. She can turn a yard sale piece into an absolute treasure with just a lick of paint, the right knobs, and some decorative paint in just the right dose. She never overdoes it and the colours she selects end up being perfect for the piece. I always envision what I'd do to update an old piece of furniture, but the follow-through...it seldom happens! When she comes to visit, she'll often wander around my house and offer sage advice like "that would be so much prettier if you painted it ". I always tell her I am actually waiting patiently for her to do it for me...!!

Mum has the most beautiful dishware, vintage accessories and pictures, many of which she inherited from my beloved Auntie Jean, who helped raise my mum after her own mother passed away. Auntie Jean had wonderful taste and cared for her things impeccably. It is a trait which has been passed down to my mum as well. My mother is a very neat and tidy lady, and I always say it is her fault that I, too, have the "disease" of tidying our way out the door. In truth, any comparisons to my mother leave me pleased as punch. She is a lovely, kind person with a knack for making her home beautiful and welcoming. She has been a great influence on me in more ways than I can count; and I can't help myself, but ever since I was a little girl, I thought she was the prettiest mum ever. I hope you have enjoyed touring my mother's home!

When did babies stop being babies??

photo: euphoria materinity.com

top photo:www.potterybarnkids.com

I asked myself this question the other day as I browsed through one of my favourite magazines. It featured the home of a young family with a toddler and infant. The home was decorated in a style I like to call "clean", i.e. little clutter, simple clean-lined furnishings, but not necessarily modern. More of a modern/vintage blend, with a tendency towards minimalism. It was actually quite a pleasant home, and I pictured the children's rooms to be fairly devoid of clutter, but decorated with brighter accents and just the right juvenile artwork and "quality" toys. Restrained, but happy still. Well, I flipped the page and if the descriptive hadn't been below the picture labelling it a child's bedroom, then I would have been none the wiser. The toddler's room was devoid of personality and certainly not a happy, child's space. Tan bedding, cream painted walls, very little on the walls, just a tricycle in the middle of the floor that you suspected was placed there simply for photographic effect. Blah!!!

Now, I'm not saying we all have to turn our children's bedrooms and nurseries into candyland or gussy them up in the perfect rendition of Mother Goose... but surely a child's space should announce itself as such?? I thoroughly enjoyed decorating my children's nurseries and delighted in finally being able to use colours that didn't always suit the rest of my house. I loved the scaled down versions of chairs and ottomans that were perfect for my little ones to curl up in and enjoy a book. Sure, I could just have pushed a spare recliner in from the family room, but what's the fun of that? The chairs in the family room belong in the family room. My kids were going to have just enough stimulation via toys and artwork in their rooms and the toys were to be enjoyed and looked at and played with...not stored behind a chic sliding wood panel door that hides the wonders of childhood. Babies (and toddlers) are babies for such a short time...we need to enjoy them, not hide all evidence of them.

photo: Pottery Barn Kids

I definitely agree that parents should make their child's furniture choices ones that will grow with them, but not jump ahead and purchase the leather club chair that will look so hip when they are 16 and hanging out with their equally hip friends. Babies don't need to be hip, and you can't streamline them or make them minimalists. Babies and children are larger than life...not literally of course... but just listen to their squeals of delight and drink in their big, toothy grins and you are reminded that restraint is not something normally associated with them.

My advice is to enjoy this fleeting stage, purchase sensible but realistic furniture, and have FUN with all the accessories available to dress up their rooms in fitting style. There will be plenty of time to have an empty home devoid of "clutter". Lie down on the floor of your baby's room, look around and ask yourself this, "Do you really want your child to have to look at a book to see the colours and symbols of childhood?" Relax and enjoy bringing some colour and fun into your home. Babies grow up too fast as it is...

photo: The Land of Nod

Join me in La La Land...

I sometimes like to visit a place I call La La Land. It is basically just the click of a mouse away; and technically, you could buy any of the items with just a few more clicks, but you'd have to be prepared to have a lot of money to fork over. La la land is basically online shopping. I can honestly say, I have done very little of it. I think it is because my husband is deathly afraid of it (thinking someone is ready to pounce on all our personal banking info and spend all our money!!) and it involves buying the items on credit, which I am not a big fan of. However, I often "fill my cart up" at some of these online shops and have a great time "spending" lots of money. The end result usually means I empty the cart and sign off empty-handed. Kind of like when I fill my cart up at Homesense and then empty most of it on the way to the checkouts (part of my reality check!!).

I decided I'd go on a little fantasy shopping trip and take you along for the ride...if you want to come!! I'm pretending I'm driving in this vintage beauty (after I've stopped for what looks like quite the picnic...) and the first stop is Cottage Chic, where I buy this beautiful chair: and slip covered head board. Heck, while I'm at it, I might as well get the bedding thrown in too!! Since practicality is not needed in this fantasy, I think I will get these gorgeous copper gutters from Classic Colonial Homes. They would look fantastic on my house. I'm sure the shipping would be minimal...

To satisfy my love of nests and birds, I think I'll pick up a couple of sets of these lovely dishes from Ballard designs, the bird stamp from Posh Chicago, and the pillow (well, I can't recall where I found that beauty).

To end my shopping experience on a wonderful note, I think I will get myself that lovely chaise from Pompom Interiors. I even love the name of that store. They have some fantastic things to feast your eyes upon!!

I hope you've enjoyed my silly little fantasy shopping trip. I'm hoping I'm not the only one who has ever done this...If you haven't, you should give it a go! Do it on a rainy day when you're bored or on that gloomy day before payday when shopping is just not in the cards! Sure it's frivolous, but so is pretty much all shopping that is not grocery related. And, it's so much fun...!!!